ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan and Iran have expressed satisfaction at the continuing warmth in their bilateral relationship anchored in religious and socio-cultural affinities (Pak-Iran relationship).
In the 10th round of the Pak-Iran Bilateral Political Consultations held in Islamabad on Tuesday, it was noted that a long ‘border of friendship’ between the two Countries has also provided a means for regular people-to-people contacts over the centuries.
In the meeting, the Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Syed Abbas Araghchi led their respective delegations.
Both sides agreed to hold the 21st Session of the Joint Economic Commission early next year.
In particular, measures to enhance bilateral trade to achieve the annual target of US$ 5 billion through facilitation of business communities, scaling down of trade barriers and speedy progress on facilitating preferential trade were discussed in detail.
The two sides also agreed on the need to further improve railway connectivity between the two Countries. They also discussed ways and means to facilitate the growing number of Zaireen traveling every year to Iran from Pakistan.
It was noted that fully supporting an Afghan-owned Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process was the best way to overcome the serious security and politico-economic challenges faced by Pakistan and Iran.
The two sides noted that a coordinated approach in this regard was important to safeguard the core interests of both Pakistan and Iran.
In addition, views were also exchanged on other important regional and international issues including the situation following the US unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the situation of human rights in Kashmir, and the conflict in the Middle East.
The Pakistan-Iran Bilateral Political Consultations are one of the several important institutional mechanisms to regularly review and chart the way forward in various areas of cooperation.
The Bilateral Consultations provide the opportunity to review the progress made under various other institutional mechanisms concerning consular, economic, trade and border related issues between the two sides.
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